System for and method of fuel optimization in a hybrid vehicle

• US 10,071,647 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Technology Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Power Technology Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Dalum, Joseph Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Majdi
• Application Number:
  US15/067,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 : Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 : of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a system for idle reduction in a hybrid vehicle. The system includes a control system for causing the vehicle to operate in a charge depletion mode, or a charge accumulation mode in response to job site data; the job site data can include an estimate of the amount of energy required at the job site.

Claims

1. A system for idle reduction in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a control system configured to operate the vehicle to operate in a charge depletion mode in response to job site data, the job site data including an estimate of an amount of energy expected to be required at a job site,

wherein the control system is configured to receive the job site data including the estimate before the vehicle reaches the job site and stores the estimate in an electronic memory, the job site being a location where the vehicle is stationary and uses equipment, the equipment being powered by the vehicle at the job site,

wherein the charge depletion mode is entered during travel to the job site in response to the estimate being less than an amount of energy stored in a rechargeable energy source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to decrease a depletion rate during travel in order to conserve more energy for use at the job site based upon an indication of estimated energy use at the job site.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to increase a depletion rate during travel in order to supply more energy for use during driving based upon an indication of estimated energy use at the job site, or an indication that the vehicle is returning to a location where the vehicle will be charged.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein energy supplied during travel is used by at least one of a second prime mover, an air conditioner, fans, lights, or radio.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein additional power is provided during travel for emergency vehicles traveling to an accident, or defense vehicles during combat operations.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to receive the estimate from a value stored within the control system, the value comprising a fraction of a total battery capacity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the value stored within the control system is determined from energy use based upon historical data collected during previous trips, averages based upon previous events, other vehicles, the need for a quieter job site, or time of day.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein after the amount of energy stored in the rechargeable energy source reaches the estimate, the vehicle is configured to perform at least one of the following operations:

enter into a charge sustain mode, stop charging the rechargeable energy source, or stop discharging the rechargeable energy source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the amount of energy expected to be required at the job site is estimated using at least one of user input or telematics.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the user input comprises depressing a “

Go home button”

notifying the system that the vehicle is returning to the location of a grid based charging apparatus, or spoken command indicating the vehicle will be going home.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the charge depletion mode of the rechargeable energy source supplies power through at least one of the following:

a DC to DC converter provided to charge a DC system, an inverter provided for an AC motor, or an inverter for power exportation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the inverter for power exportation supplies power to at least one of the following:

the equipment, controllers for motors, or a charger.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the power is supplied from the rechargeable energy source or from a vehicle chassis energy source, the vehicle chassis energy source comprising a battery, the battery being replenished from the rechargeable energy source using a DC to DC converter.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimate is calculated for multiple stops at different job sites.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system charges the rechargeable energy source when the the amount of energy stored in the rechargeable energy source decreases to a predetermined amount.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy source depletes to a minimum level before the vehicle is plugged-in.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimate is based on whether a battery system becomes depleted during job site operations at a predetermined energy level.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to charge the rechargeable energy source with a prime mover.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control system is configured to charge the rechargeable energy source with a grid, and stop charging the rechargeable energy source with the grid when the amount of energy stored in the rechargeable energy source reaches to a threshold value.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control system is configured to stop charging the rechargeable energy source with the prime mover when the amount of energy stored in the rechargeable source is higher than the threshold value.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the job site data includes at least one of types of tasks to be completed at the job site, expected duration of one or more jobs, an indication of whether a fueling station is available at the job site or power from an electric grid is available at the job site.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the estimate includes energy flow from the vehicle to the electric grid to supplement the electric grid or power demands from buildings or the equipment.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system determines whether regeneration is possible at the job site and reserves all stored energy for job site usage if regeneration is not possible at the job site, wherein the determination is based on at least one of the following factors:

the need to operate quietly while the vehicle is stationary, whether the vehicle is in a city, whether the vehicle is in an enclosed space, or whether the use is at night.